Electric switch



June 25, 1929. H. F. MORSE ELE7TRIG swn'cn Filed llay 24, 1927 InventorHarold F Morse, b5 M His Attofney Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES A 1,718,478 PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD I. MORSE, OF SO"UTIJHPOR'Jt, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO GENERALELECTRIC 1 COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF-NEW YORK.

rinnc rmo swxron Application filed. my 24,

My invention relates toswitches for electric circuits. More particularlythe Invention relates to switches adapted for use in connection withelectric motors and the like and in particular for use in connectionwith threespeed motors.

lt is an object of the invention to provide a switch with rows ofcontacts on a rotatable element and a ratchet device for advancing theelement one step at a time; to provide a device. of the foregoingcharacter in which a series of brushes are used in connection with therotatable clement, one of the brushes arranged to engage all of the con-(acts in a row and each of theothcr brushes arranged to engage onecontact in each row;

to provide'a device in which alever' is mounted to oscillate. aboutth'eaxis of the rotatable element; to provide-ratchet means associatedwith said lever whereby the retatable device may be advanced one'step ata time upon each oscillation of the'lever; to provide contacts forthedrum in the form of links with T heads; the said heads form"- iug thecontacts of the drum, the'links between the heads being en'ibedded inrecesses in the drum whereby. the brushes may pass over the linkswithout establishingcontact therewith; and to provide other features inthe form of improvementsfor increasing the efliciency and serviceabilityof the device above referred to. Y t

The invention will be readily understood from "the followingspecification and drawing. in which drawing- Fig. 1 shows the switch ofthe invent-ion .m POI'HPGPHVGI 1 lg.

" 2 slums the details of the rotatable device and its contacts in aso-callcd exploded form: F ig. 3 shows the drum sections as--Illll)l((l-\\'ll'll. their contacts 1n posit on and 'shows the shaft,the ratchet and the spring restoring mechanism associated with the drum;Fig. 4 shows the devlce of the 1nven-' tion in perspective and with aportion ofthe cap broken away showing the position of the brushes in thcdevice; Fig. 5 shows'a diagrammatic layout of the brushes, contacts andcircuits leading to a motor under the control of the switch; Fig. 6 is asection through the drum corresponding to a plane through the line 6 6,Fig. 5.

Referring .more in detail to thedrawing, it will be seen that the drumis made up of a number of sections 2, 3, 4, 5' and 6, of insulatingmaterial. In Fig. 3 these sections or 1927. Serial No. 193,764.

elements are shown assembled upon a tube 7, The cylinder is providedwith a head piece 8 which forms a portion of the ratchet mechanism. Theother portion of the ratchet mechanism consists of the element 9provided with the arm 10. In Fig. 3 there is shown a shaft 11 and theremaining elements in Fig. 3 are assembled upon this shaft. The elementsshown in Fig. 3 are mounted on the shaft 11 in the order in which theyare shown in this figure. First in order will appear the bushing 12,then the element 9, and then the cylinder A. The order of these elementsin their assembled form within the device can be readily perceived froman inspection of Figs. 1 and 2. \Vhen the, elements are assembled uponthe shaft 11, the end of the retractilc spring 13 is caught in a spur 13at the base of the lever 10. It will be understood that the shaft 11 andthe bushing 12 are fixed with respect to the casing 14 of the, device.The bushing 12, it will be seen, is provided with the prongs 15, 180apart, which prongs engage suitable openings in the casing 14 of thedevice as indicated in Fig. 1. It will also be seen that the prongs. 16on the ratchet element 8 engage the corresponding recesses in theelement 6 of the cylinder. The contact linksl7, 18 and 19 which aremounted on the cylinder are provided each with T heads '20'and 21, 22and 23, 24 and 25.' The link 17 when in position in the cylinder lies inthe recesses 26 and eitends through the slots 27 in the elements 3, 4and 5 of the cylinder.

Similarly, the link 18 lies in the recess 28 of,

the element 4 of the cylinder and passes through the slots 29 in theelements 4 and 5.

Likewise, the link joining the contact heads 24 and passes through theslot 30 in the element 5 of the cylinder .The positions of the links 17and 18 are clearly indicated in Fig. 3. \Vhen the links are in place thecontacts or heads of the links rest upon the shoulders of the elements2, 3, land 5, as indicated in the figures and the contact elements 21,23and 25 rest upon the element 5 as indicated in Fig. 6. Referring tothe diagrammatic switch in'Fig. 5, the brushes 31, 32 and 33 areillustrated in alignment respectively with the contacts 20, 22, 24,while the brush 34 is illustrated in alignment with the contacts 21,23,25. The direction of rotation of the cylinder A is indicated by thearrow in Fig. 3. This direction of moveare provided'withprojections 43.It will with the conductor 35 which leads to a suiti ment isalso'indicated in Fig. 5'by an arrow.

Itwill be seen that the brush 34gis connected able source of potential,while the motor 36 is connected with the conductor 37, which also leadsto the same source of potential, while the brush 33 is connected withthe other side of the motor direct. On the other hand,' the brush- 32is-connected with the with the same side of the motor-through the sameside of the motor through a resistance element 38, while the brush 31 isconnected resistance elements 39 and 38 in series. It

- will be seen, therefore,that' when the link 19 is under the brushes 33and 34 thespced of the motor will be maximum, while when the link. 18 isunder the brushes the circuit will extend through the brushes 34 and 32and the' speed of .the' motor will be an intermediate speed. Finally,when the link 17 is under the brushes the circuit of the motor is closedthrough the brushes 31 and. 34 with the res. sult that the motoroperates at minimum 3 speed. In. Fig. 5 I have indicated a dottedsectionover the link 17 in'alignment with tl1eterminal22, Similarly, I haveindicateda dott'e'd section over the link 18 in alignment with theContact 19; This dotted'section is intended to indicate-that the brushesdo not about the shaft 11 the ratchet device com- .prising the. elements8 and '9 is brought into operation; Normally the teeth J40 on, the

.element S engage with the slots 41 on the 40' element 9a deach timethat the lever 10 is pressed forward in the direction indicated by thearrow in Fig. 3 the cylinder A isad- 'vanoed one step and the tensionisincrea'sed in the spring 13. U on the lever 10 being released ;it isrestore by said'sp'ring; Ifit is assumed that before the lever 10is-pressed forward, the brushes tacts of the link 17, then when thecylinder -is rotated'the circuit is broken through the resistanceelement 39 and a new circuit established through the brushes 32 and 34by way of the link 18 Upon again operating the er is advanced another.lever the circuit through the motor 36 is broken; Upon operatingthe-lever 10 once more connection is again closed through the motor 36byway of the link 17. .This cycle ofoperation may repeated any number of'contact simultaneously with one'of the segtimes. 7

' It will be seen that the linksf17, 18 and 19 to its normal poitionalso be seen that-the elements 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are provided witlirecesses 44 which receive the proj ections-43 foranchoring the links andcontactsin position. In order to hold all of the'elements of thecylinder -to ether, the

washer 42 is slid over the end 0 thetube,"

after which the end is. peened to form a head or rivet similar to thehead 42. The

elements of the cylinder therefore areglield securely inpositionon-thecylinder be-.

tween the heads 42 and 42?.

It will be seen,'therefore, that applicant has devised an improvedelectric circuit switch having a cylinder A of insulating materialmounted to rotate about its longi tudinal axis, which extends throughthe cen- .ter of the shaft 11- The cylinder Axis formed by assemblingthe various sections --2, 3, 4, 5, each of which is provided 'with a setof detents, some of which are transversely cut by slots, such as theslots 27,, .29-and 30.

-It will be seen that the slots in certain s'ections of thecylinderconstitute depressions between. detents on enclosing segments of thecylinder, for example, the slot 26 con:

stitutes a depression extending to the right of segment 2 of thecylinder Fig, 2. The

detents in each segment are, of course, located ll'l alignment intransverse order .of

the cylinder; Likewise, the depressions in each segment of the cylinderare located in ahgnment'm transverse order ofthe cylinder. Thecommutator segments are con nected by link sections such as' the linksections 17, 18 and 19.. Furthermore, the seg-. ments 20 and 21 aredisposed transversethe longitudinal axis of the-U formation of the metalelement. The U formation of the 5 metal elements is distinctly shown inFig. 2. In the assembled device as shown "in Fig. 4 the brushes 31, 32,33', 34,. are shown mounted transverse the cylinder'and rest infreeengagement with the cylinder so that the cylinderma'ybereadilyfrotxited under the brushes in-the direction of the arrow. Withthe arrangement described, for ex- M v 'ample,'the brushes 31 and 34,when the cylfi g g m i the 0011- 'i'mder reaches a given position,snapsimultaneously'from detents on the cylinder into" engagement withthe commutator segments 20 and 21, that is, the brush 31 will snap fromthe toe of onept the teeth of the segment 2 on to'the heel'of the nexttooth andon top of the segment 20, while thebrush 34 will snap from thetoe of the detent 'in ment elements and making-contact simu taneouslywith another segment element. It will be seen-that the commutatorsegments tion. It will be seen that'the cylinder cona similar sists ofas many. segments as there are brushes and that each segment is formedoi a drum element with detents arranged in consecutive order around thedrum and that the drum is provided with a head flange, which head flangeis transversely slotted in order to provide depressions in the cylinderfor receiving the link portions of the metal elements, the ends of whichform the commutator segments. It will be understood that the cylindercan only be rotated in one direction indicated by the arrow Fig. 4inasmuch as the detentsin combination with the brushes operate toprevent the cylinder from rotating in a direction counter to thatindicated by the arrow in Figs. 3 and 4. In the construction shown itwill be seen that the teeth are all in phase. This is indicated, forexample, in Fig. 2,. that is, the teeth are in alignment in a directiontransverse the flanges of the drum sections which form the body elementor cylinder. This arrangement enables the brushes to all snapsimultaneously from the toes of one set of teeth to the heels of anotherset of teeth. However,'the slots ordepressions for receiving the linksections of the metal elements are notin phase." 7

While I have disclosed my invention in connection with specificapparatus and circuits, I do not wish .to be so limited inasmuch as inview of the disclosure variations may obviously be produced withoutdeparting from the spiritof the invention or the scope of the claimscontained herein.

\Vhat 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is r 1. An electric switch having a body elen'ientof'insnlating material mounted to 'ro tale about its'longitudinal axis,a series of detents forn'ied lengthwise said body element. :1metalelement having a pair of terminals and a metal link connecting thelatter, one such metal element being mounted on each of said detentswith the link thereof extending lengthwise the detent, a plurality ofbrushes. one individual to one terminal on each detentand one common toone terminal on each detent, the terminals common to the common brushbeing located in alignment with each other and with their.

brush along a plane transverse the said body element and each individualbrush being mounted in alignment with its contact along plane. one ofsaidplanes being interposed between two others, said brushes being somounted with respect to their contacts and with respect tothe detentsthat one end of each brush snaps from detentto detent as the said bodyrotates, the said in- .terpos'ed plane extending transverse one of saidlinks on one of said detents, a depres sion in the latter detent betweenthe terminals thereon, the link joining said terminals being located insaid depression whereby when the switch rotates, the brush along theinterposed plane will not make contact with the link in depression.

2.; An electric switch having a body element of insulating materialmounted to rotate about its longitudinal axis, a series of detentsformed lengthwise said body element, a metal elementhaving a pair ofterminals and a metal link connecting the latter, one such metal elementbeing mounted on each of said detents with the link thereof extendinglengthwise .the detent, a plurality of brushes, one individual to oneterminal on each detent and one common to one terminal on each detent,the terminals common to the common brush being located in alignment witheach other and with their brush along a plane transverse the said bodyelement. and each individual brush being mounted in alignment with itscontact along a similar plane, one of said planes being interposedbetween two others, said brushes being so mounted with respect to theireon-' tacts and with respect to the detents that one end of each brushsnaps from detent to detent as the said body rotates, the saidinterposed plane extending transverse one of said links on one of saiddetents, a depression in, the latter detent between the terminalsthereon, the link joining said terminals being lo -ated in said depress-n whereby when the switch rotates, the brush along the interposed planewill not make contact with the link in said depression, said contactsand brushes being so related that when the said body element is rotatedcontact is made and broken simultaneously between a pair of said brushesand one of said'metal elements.

3. An electric switch having .a body ele-' ment of insulating materialmounted to 1'0- tate about its longitudinal axis, a series of detentsformed lengthwise said body element, a metal element having a pair ofterminals and a metal link connecting the lat-' ter, one such metalelement being mounted alignment with its contact along a. similar plane,one of said planes being interposed between two others, said brushesbeing so mounted with respect to their contacts and with respect to thedetents that one endof each brush snaps from detent to detentas planeexten ngtransverse one of said links on gne of said detents, adepre'ssion in the latter detent between the terminals thereon, the linkjoining said terminals being locatedin: said depression whereby the saidbody rotates, the .said interposed 'when the switch rotates, the brushalong the interposed plane will not make contact with the link in saiddepression, said body element being formed of a series of sections,

each section bounded by two parallel planes 3 transverse the axis of thebody element, and

means for securing said sections together along the axis of the saidbodyelement.

4. An electric switchhaving a body elementof insulating material mountedto ro-' tate about its longitudinal axis, a series of thecommon brushbeing located in 1 align ment with each other and with their brush alonga plane transverse'the said body elemerit and each individualbrushbeingmounted in alignment with its contact along a similar' plane, one ofsaid planes being in terposed between two others, said brushes being somounted with respect to their con tacts and with respect to the detentsthat'one I end of each brush snaps from detent to detent as the saidbody rotates, the said interposed plane extending. transverse'one ofsaid l. links on one of said detents, a depression in the latter detentbetween the terminals thereon, the link joining said terminals beinglocated in said depression whereby when the switch rotates, the brushalong the inter- .posed plane will not make contact with-the "FYGISG theaxis of the body element, and

means for securing said sections together toialong the ax s of the saidbody element, one brush being providedfor each section, each sectionhaving alfiange head extending beyond the detents, one of the heads being located along one of said planes transverse pgovided saiddepression, said head being with a slot in alignment wit h saidderessionto permit said link corresponding to said depression beingimbeddedtherein.

ment of insi lating'material mounted to T0: tate about itslongitudinal'axis,a series of detents' formed lengthwise said bodyelecommon brush, said brushes being mounted n operative relation withrespect to their .link in said'depression, said body element -be-[ h ingformed of a series ot sections, e'ach-sec 7 :--t i on boun'ded-l'iy twoparallel .plan'es .transsaid brushes being mounted in operative relationwith respect to their corresponding ment, a metal element havinga pairof terminals and ,a metal link connecting the latter, one such metalelement being mounted .'on each of said detentswit-h the link thereofextending lengthwise the detent, aplurality v of brushes,mire-individual: to one terminal .ment and each individual brush beingmounted in alignment with its contact along a similar plane, said planesbeing, displaced with respect to each other, the planes throughtheindividual brushes being all located to one side of the plane throughthe corresponding'contacts whereby the contacts are engaged by theircorresponding brushes as the body element is rotated, certain of saidlinks extending transverse. certain of said planes, the links thuscrossed by such I planes being deflected out of the path of the brushescorresponding to such plane. 6. An electrieswitch having a body elementof insulating material mounted to rotate about its longitudinal axis, aseries of detents formed lengthwise said body element, a metal elementhaving, pair of termina-ls and a metal link connecting the latter, onesuch metal element being mounted on each of said detents with the linkthereof extending lengthwise the detent, a plurality of brushes, oneindividual t0= one terminal on each detent and one common to oneterminal on eachdetent, the-terminals common tothe common brushbeing'loc-ated in alignment with each other and with their brush along aplane transverse the said body element and' each individual brush beingmounted in alignment with its contact along a similar plane, said planesbeing displaced with respect to each other, the planes through theindividual brushes being all located-to .one side of the plane throughthe commonbrush,

contacts wheirby the .contacts aieengaged by their correspondingbrushesas the body element is rotated, certain of said links 'exele mentwhereby the brushes corresponding to the intercepting planes areprevented from. 'makmg contact with such links; An electric switchhaving a body ele- HAROLD IF. MoasE."

tendin transverse certain of said planes, the links t as intercepted bysaid planes being). -imb'edded in depressionsi-n .said bod r

